The Energy Revolution has begun and will change your lifestyle

Welcome to the Energy Blog

The Energy Blog is where all topics relating to The Energy Revolution are presented. Increasingly, expensive oil, coal and global warming are causing an energy revolution by requiring fossil fuels to be supplemented by alternative energy sources and by requiring changes in lifestyle. Please contact me with your comments and questions. Further Information about me can be found HERE.

Statistics

March 05, 2008

Chilled Ammonia Carbon Capture Process to be Demonstrated

A pilot plant that uses chilled ammonia to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from coal-fueled power plants was launched by Alstom, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and We Energies, at We Energies’ Pleasant Prairie Power Plant in Wisconsin. Alstom designed, constructed and will operate the 1.7 MW system that captures CO2 from a portion of coal-fired boiler flue gas at the power plant, a 1,224 MW coal-fired generating station.

Alstom’s process uses chilled ammonia to capture CO2 and isolates it in a highly concentrated, high-pressure form. In laboratory testing it has demonstrated the potential to capture more than 90 percent of CO2 at a cost that is far less than other carbon capture technologies. Once captured, the CO2 can be used commercially or sequestered in suitable underground geologic sites.

“Developing cost-effective carbon capture technology is one of the most important environmental challenges facing the utility industry in the 21st century and it’s important that we take steps now to achieve a long-term technology solution”

-- Gale Klappa, Chairman, President and CEO of Wisconsin Energy, parent company of We Energies

This process sounds like one that could be fairly easily integrated into existing power plants and lead the way towards the government requiring carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) at all coal fired power plants. Note that this project is being done with no government financing. Other technologies that are being developed and that have been reported on by TEB, include: ones using ZIFs, sodium hydroxide, or amine based solvents, another, I believe ambient temperature ammonia system, algae systems, and an e.coli system. These processes are aimed at conventional coal fired plants. IGCC and Oxyfuel plants isolate the CO2 as part of the processes so carbon capture is a much simpler process, but these plants cost more than conventional coal plants. There is disagreement whether conventional plants with CCS or IGCC plants with just sequestration are the most economical and which plants will dominate the industry in the future. In any case there is a huge number of existing conventional coal plants that need CCS, once legislation is passed requiring it.

Any word on the process economics of CO2 capture? I wonder what the key differences are between using an amine (R-NH2) and ammonia (NH3). IMO, using chilled ammonia by itself is probably not a big innovation, some other key feature that would have been difficult to implement previously might be the key...

PANN industries provide a wide variety of products and services. We have a reputation for quality and reliability within the industrial field. Our services include supply of high quality industrial gases and chemicals, Ammonia Chlorine gas safety kits. For further Inquiry visit http://www.pannindustries.com

this is very nice quote
“Developing cost-effective carbon capture technology is one of the most important environmental challenges facing the utility industry in the 21st century and it’s important that we take steps now to achieve a long-term technology solution”

This is great news. Paul, you said "I read the cost of separating CO2 using chilled ammonia was projected to be in the range of $10-20/ton." Do you know if the value of the offset credits that would be generated from a project like this would make it economically self sufficient based on that cost?
Ekaterina
www.csa.ca/carbonperformance

Is there any way to capture CO2 so that the resulting product is in liquid or solid form? seems like itd be a lot easier to store, rather than gas. Pumping gas back into the ground for eternity...seems like the CO2 will eventually escape again...

I want to be a reporter rolex Explorer II when I watch TV every evening. We can get lots of important GMT Master II information from them. They make the world smaller rolex cellini and also make us happy. I would like to be a reporter when I grow up. And I can learn a lot Explorer II about China and the other countries around the world. I can meet many superstars as well. I have lots of dreams. I think my rolex gmt master dreams can come true one day, because there's an old saying "where there is a will, there is a way." lxf

I love the name Ox. It wasn't long ago when every family had their own ox that was the beast of burden. Transport,food, wool, and tilling the field.Android Tablets A good provider the Ox. Butter, Milk, and Cheese. Perhaps the todays ox will be the new beast of burden. Simple and close to the earth. How lovely! I want an Ox. I also think the manufacturer should make a deal with and American Auto company like Ford or Chev to use an American Android Phone factory to begin a North American assembly line. 2945abc45 0422 Sincerely

This method can replace the process which is used in ammonia production using NG or naphtha where the carbon dioxide is absorbed by a GV solution,
This process help in decreasing the production cost of ammonia.